Air filter for internal-combustion engines



A. IVIILBURN.

AIR FILTER FOR INTERNAL CoNIBUsIIoN ENGINES.

4APPLICATION FILED MAR. i8. |921.

Patented May 2, i922.

lAlQQS.

alito! neg A1B, FILTER 'EUR NTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

i Application led March itl, i921. Serial No. 453,239.

T o all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that l, ALviN MILBURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Keensbur in the county of Wabash and State of llinois, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Air Filters for internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to air Ilters for internal combustion engines.

In the operation ci internal combustion engines, particularly those in use in farm tractors and the like, it is essential that the air admitted into the carburetor be free from dust and grit which cause damage to the moving parts of the engine and shorten the lite thereof.

An important object of the present' invention is to provide a device oi the above mentioned character which will prevent the blowing out of water when the engine backlires.

A further object ,of the invention is to provide means for ascertaining positively whether the float is operating properly.

A further object ol the invention is to provide a device which will be simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, ellicient in operation, and to provide such construction which permits the ready .removal of sediment collected in the water therein.

In the drawings forming a part ol 'this specilication, and in which lilre numerals are employed to designate lilre parte throughout.

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device, y

Figure 2 is a similar view el? the upper portion of the device talren in a plane at right anglesy to Figure l.,

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of lligure 1, and

Figure l is 'a section taten on the line 1--41 of Figure 1.

ln the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preierred embodiment of the invention. the numeral 5 designates a iixed casing which is preferably vertically arranged and cylindrical in form. The casing 5 is provided with a preferably integral bottom 6. shaped as shown. and a preferable removable top 'l' secured to the casing 5 by means or bolts 8 or the like.

An inlet dome 9 is arranged in the top 7, preferably centrally thereof, and projects upwardly therebeyond. The dome 9, is provided with openings 10 Jfor the admissionoil specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922.

air. A preferably rectangular guide 11 is provided, preferably integral with the dome 9, and extends a substantial distance downwardly from the top thereof for a purpose to be described. The top 7 is provided with a filler cap 12 through which Water may yne poured into the casing.

The numeral 13 designates a stationary air pipe arranged centrally of the casing 5 and having its ends terminating substantial distances from the top 7 and bottom 6 of the casing 5. substantially horizontal air outlet pipe 14 is mounted in the bottom 6 ot the casing 5 and has its inner end communicating with the lower end of the air pipe 15. The outer end of the pipe 14 projects outwardly of the casing and is adapted for connection with the air inlet of the carburetor of the engine. A bracket 15 is connected between the bottom 6 and the side of the pipe 13 opposite the pipe 14- whereby the pipe 13 may be securely ixed with respect to the casing 5 as clearly shown in Figure is spaced from the lower end o'l the bottom 5 and the latter is provided with a screw threaded cap 15 which may be removed :tor cleaning out the sediment which collects at the bottom oi the water.

The numeral 17 designates a vertically movable preferably cylindrical easing arranged within the casii'agE 5 and spaced 'there- 'lronr The casing 1'? has a preferably integral top 18 which has secured thereto, substantially centrally thereoi, a gag-e member lll. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the gage 1. llhe pipe 1e' 'member 19 projects through the guide 11 and is slid-able therein. The upper end of the gage member 19 projects upwardly bei..

yond the top et the dome 19 and is provided with suitable markings 2@ by which the water level certained, as will be obvious.

rlhe casing 17 is vprovided with a preferably integral bottom 18 forming the lower wall oi a float 19. As shown` the 'outer portion oi the tloat 19 is spaced from the side walls of the casing 17. 'lhe bottom-18" between the ifloat 19 and the side walls of the casing -17 is perforated as at 20. The numeral 21 designates an upstanding guide pipe surrounding the airA pipe 13, and secured to the bottom 18 of the casing 17. As shown in Figure 3, the pipes 13 and 21 are similarly shaped in cross section, other than round, whereby rotation of the casing 17 with respect to the casing 5 is prevented. A screen lwithin the casing 5 may be asof the device, the top 18 of the casing 17; is

normally spaced from the top 7 of the casing 5 to permit the flow inwardly of air, and the top 7 is preferably provided with a splash plate 23.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The cap 12 is removed and water introduced into the casing 5 until the gage indicates full At this position of the gage, the parts of the device are in the position indicated in Figures 1 and 2, and the displacement of the float is such that the level of the water is at or slightly above, the uppermost et the pertorations 20. When the engine* is operated, the suction created by the intake thereof causes the intake ot air through the openings 10 in the dome 9. This air passes downwardly in the dome, out-` wardly between the caps 7 and 18, and downwardly between the casings 5 and17. The suction of the engine creates a partial vacuum within the casing 17 drawing the water upwardly therein. The vacuum also draws downwardly on the top 18 and upwardly on the top oit the float, and since the area of the top 18 is greater than the top of the float. the inner shell sinks until the bottom thereoic rests upon the outlet pipe 14e. That action of the vacuum in raising the water in the inner shell then causes air to enter the inner shell through the openings 20. The screen 22 prevents the splash of the water from reaching the upper end of the pipe 13. The air then passes through the screen 22 and into the end of the air pipe 13, from whence it is delivered through the horiaontal pipe 14 to the intake ot the en gine. ln the event ot the engine back-tiring, the pressure created in the pipe 13 impinges against the top 18 of the casing 17 causing it to be lifted somewhat permitting the air to escape through the pertorations 20 without passing through the water in the casing. Thus it will be seen that little or no water will be forced outwardly between the side walls or' the casing, and what little water is forced upwardly willrbe intercepted by the splash plate 2 Devices of this kind are usually provided with fioats to govern the height of the moving parts according to the amount ot water contained in the casing, which is necessary for the eiicient operation of the device.

rampes eration o the moving parts. With my device, however, when water is introduced into the casing the operation of the moving parts is positively indicated by the gage member 19. y

Tt is to be understood that the form ot my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same the invention or thefscope of the subjoined claims.,

llVhat T claim is:

l. 1n a device ot the character described, a stationary vertical casing including a top and a bottom, said top being provided with inlet openings, a stationary outlet pipe having one end projecting upwardly within said stationaryl casing, and its other end projecting without the casing, a vertically movable casing mounted within said stationary easing and spaced therefrom, said last named casing being provided with a closed top, a bottom wall formed on said movable casing, and a float carried by said bottom wall and spaced from the side walls of said movable casing, said bottom wall being provided with openings arranged between said float and the side walls of said movable casing.

2. ln `a device of the character described, a stationary vertical casing including a top and a bottom, an inlet dome mounted in thev top of said stationary casing and provided with openings, a gage guide carried by said dome, a vertical stationary air conduit mounted substantially centrally of said stationary casing, a vertically movable casing mounted in and spaced from said stationary casing and having a closed top, a guide pipe carried by said movable casing and surrounding said air conduit, a :fioat carried by and mounted adjacent the bottom ofsaid movable casing and spaced trom the side walls thereof, a screen connecting between said Heat andthe side walls ot said movable casing, and a gage member carried by the top of said movable casing and slidalole within said gage guide. y

3. Tn a device of the character described, a stationary vertical casing including a top and a bottom and adapted to contain water, said top being provided with an inlet opening, a stationary outlet pipe having one end projecting upwardly within said easing and its other end projecting without the casing, a vertically movable casing mounted within said stationary casing and spaced thereirom, said movable casing being slidable upon said is@ Y outlet pipe, and a {ioat carried by said movable casing adjacent the bottom thereof, said float being spaced from the side Walls of said movable casing, the volume of said inner casing being substantially greater than the volume of water within said stationary casing.

' 4. In a device of the character described, a stationary vertical casing including va top and a bottom and adapted to contain water, said top being provided with an inlet opening, a stationary outlet pipe having o`ne end projecting upwardly within said casing and its other end projecting without the casing, a vertically movable casing mountedv within said stationary casing and spaced therefrom,

a guide pipe carried by said movable casing land slidable upon said outlet pipe, a vfloat carried by said movable casing adjacent the bottom thereof, said float being spaced from 20 the side Walls of said movable casing, and a screen connected between the side walls of said movable casing and said guide pipe, the volume of said movable casing below said screen being greater than the volume 25 of water within said stationary casing.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence-of two witnesses. y ALVIN MILBURN.

Witnesses:

ROY C. COMPTON, M. B. BRUCE. 

